Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday that he is calling on the police to wage an all-out war against illegal gambling in northern Negros Occidental, while a task force will be created to act on illegal fishing by large vessels in Cauayan town in the south.

Marañon said illegal gambling is rampant in northern Negros because some political leaders are supporting it.

“Gambling makes the poor poorer, and entices them to use money intended for their food to place bets,” he said.

Marañon said that, with the elections over, the police can concentrate on going after these illegal gambling activities.

The governor also said he is creating a task force to address complaints of illegal fishing by large vessels in Cauayan town, and has also asked the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for help.

If Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara fails to put a stop to illegal fishing in the municipal waters of his town, a case could be filed against him, he added.

Cauayan Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara, father of the mayor, denied that there is rampant illegal fishing in their municipal waters.

He also said it should be the Coast Guard that should go after violations of the large vessels far from the shores of Cauayan and the provincial Bantay Dagat group.

Fishermen of 13 barangays in Cauayan had earlier sought the help of Marañon against alleged illegal fishing operations by large purseiner vessels in the municipal waters of their town that are depleting their source of livelihood.

Ramon Gregas, vice chairman of the Cauayan Fisherfolk Federation, alleged that such illegal activities have been happening for seven years now and being tolerated by their municipal officials.

The fish catch of about 1,500 fishermen of barangays Mambugsay, Guilhungan, Tiling, Poblacion, Man-uling, Isio, Tuyom, Masaling, Caliling, Linawon, Inayawan, Bulata and Ilijan have tremendously dropped because of such activities, that gravely affects their income, he said.

The purseiner boats from Hinigaran are fishing within four kilometers of the shoreline when there should be no commercial fishing within 15 kilometers under the Municipal Fisheries Ordinance, and 10 kilometers under Republic Act 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code, Gregas said.

There are four purseiner boats with 13 light boats accompanying them that are fixtures in the Cauayan waters, he said.

They also use very bright lights, called “super lights”, to attract the fish, which is illegal, Gregas said.*CPG

back to top